Upcoming 'Hook Champ' Update: New Levels, Additional Playable Character, and More
posted by Eli Hodapp on November 11th, 2009 9:14 PM EST in $2.99, Action, Adventure, Exclusives, Free, iPhone games, iPod touch games
We enjoyed Rockcat Games' Hook Champ [$2.99 / Free] when we took a close look at it in our review, we then discussed the game during episode 2 of our podcast and there has been a thread on our forums that has been constantly growing since the game released late last month.
Hook Champ is a game that takes the swinging mechanic which has been amazingly popular both in Rope 'n' Fly and its sequel as well as the recently released Rope Raider. The game has wonderful pixel art retro graphics, and feels more like an Indiana Jones game than the actual Indiana Jones NES game.
Using your trusty rope and grappling hook you swing through a series of caves trying to make it out alive with the idol you stole before the evil (and hungry) ghost that is constantly chasing you catches up and eats you. Everything in the game is upgradeable via an in-game shop where you spend the gold coins you pick up, and each level has its own online leaderboard with additional in-game perks if you rank high enough such as a crown for your guy to wear if you're #1.

The impending update is going to have even more hats for you to buy, along with full OpenFeint support. Along with OpenFeint comes loads of achievements that range from things like beating levels to killing 40 bats in a single level. Aside from the current in-game leaderboards, there will also be a myriad of OpenFeint powered leaderboards including an overall leaderboard to see who the true king of Hook Champ is. Also, you will be able to challenge friends to compete against your performance in any level in the game.
If you felt Hook Champ did a poor job at representing female grappling hook spelunkers, you'll be happy to find out that Gunny, the girl who hauls you up at the end of each level will be a playable character in the new update. Not only that, there's an entire new level set. The rat series of levels is all about doing things at blisteringly fast speeds. There's even a new ghost that chases you that's shaped like a rat skull that moves even quicker than before.
Hook Champ was a great game, even before this update was announced. Rockcat Games' commitment to adding additional content and features for fans of the game goes even further to seal the deal. If you haven't yet played Hook Champ, I highly recommend downloading the free lite version.
App Store Link: Hook Champ, $2.99 – Hook Champ LITE, Free















great game.. i bought it a while back..
highly recommend, such fun swinging about
great work devs, looking forward to the update
This was the only thing that I touched on my phone for 3 days straight. Alot of fun.
One thing I would love to see is either a random level generator, or a never ending randomly generated level feature
Sorry for the fans of this game but I've tried the light version and I simply don't get why people go crazy for this game. I am an old school Intellivision, Colecovision, NES gamer but this title dosent do it for me at all. Try the light version before you buy.
Developer note to self: Add Québécois hat to the lite version.
Can't wait!
This is one of the best indie games on the app store and i've played HUNDREDS of them
Personal taste.
I could name A LOT indie titles I like way more.
please do
news on the new character "Gunny"
http://www.slidetoplay.com/story/exculsive-new-hook-champ-character-revealed
Love this game.
I tried Hook Champ Lite and what is so good about it? It is the easiest game. I bet 5 levels in 5 mins. Where is the challenge in that. On top of that I got just about every coin. In all 5 levels. I am not purchasing the game.
did you score first place in each map?
did you purchase more maps from the shop?
did you upload the score online and see how you rank against other people?
have you got all the upgrades available?
Oh, buddy. These levels get hard!
Trust me, difficulty won't be a problem.
If you felt Hook Champ did a poor job at representing female grappling hook spelunkers
Can't say that I did.
I had to reformat my iPhone the other day… so I lost my saved game. It's a shame, your "stats" aren't saved to an online cloud or something. I would hate having to start over :/
The problem with this game is it\'s for the hardcore. I bought it, and got through a few maps, but when it gets to lava levels, you die a lot, and I just do not have the time or patience to constantly replay levels because you die all the time. This is not fun. Itouch, for me at least, is for casual games, where I don\'t have to swear at the game. This is not casual. And it is incredibly overrated.
Developer note: Make game easier. Or harder, according to the guy a few comments up.
Seriously though, the next update adds an item for Jake that helps out a lot in the lava levels.
Looks like he's wearing a cheesehead? That's awesome…is it true?
Beating two rat levels gets you the cheesehead, yes. We swear that it is not a football team reference (please do not sue, Green Bay Packers)
Gotta speak up against the haters. This game is effin great.
I CANNNOT WAIT FOR UPDATE!
I may be a boy but i think i will play the girl quite a bit. The rat looks ace. I have ideas:
Scorpian Idol- Poisen Traps to slow you down.
Viking Helmet!
Squirel Idol- Giant Exploding NUts!
Note: Help on Bronze Skull???
did the bronze skull. did the gold skull. how do unlock wizard and crown hat?
PENGUIN IDOL
SNOW
SANTA HAT
NEW PLATINUM RANK FOR EACH IDOL!
SUPER SCRET CHAMELEON IDOL WITH ONLY GOLD VERSION!
PLEASE CONSIDE THESE IDEAS!
I usually HATE retro games, but im hooked to this one.
Looking forward to new levels – could there be a sabre-tooth idol
(with ice!!!)?